The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-05-12

beneath the cool awning, and with sigh
of relief that had at last reached o haven
of rest ! beckoned to waiting garcon
and ordered "bock'' and a package of
cigars. 1t is the custom In the Paris
cafes to pay when the patron leaves, and
not as each cigar or bottle of wine is de-
livered. l had come for long stay,
which was SO evident in my dir that the
waiter was happy, for the longer one sat
the larger the bill, and the more sumptu-
Gus the pourboirc at the end of the sitting.
1t YVES about l O'Clock as blew the foam
from the initial book and applied some fire
to the end of my first cigar.
Meanwhile was supremely satisfied.
The beer was cool and palatable, the cigar
might have been worse, the sunlight was
bright, tho streets were filed with vchi-
cles and the sidewalks crowded with
pedestrians. The thoroughfarc is one of
tho most fashionable in Paris, and at all
times is filled with life, color, and infinite
variety.
1t is said that everybody of any conse-
quence in Paris passes at least once each
day along the boulevard on which fronts
the Cafe de La Paix. Such had been my
experience during the many sunny after
moons that / had pulled and slipped be-
meath tho friendly awnings. Visitors from
Chicago, travellers from New Zealand,
Turks, Cinnamon, Russians, people from
Africa, are certain in the course of an
afternoon in the season to pass by this
favored spot. The procession is always
one possessing infinite variety and interest
In magnificent carriage there whirls by
beautiful white woman, and bv her side
her husband, as black as midnight as to
color, and kinky as q sheep as to wool,
sausage like as to lip, and with q nose fat
and broad like the half of hugo pear.
The boulevardier swings daintily along,
his clothes fitting like the skin, his mus
tache waxed and pointed like q needle, his
new Kill gloves Worn in the breast of his
coat SO as to display possession and save
wear, his expression one of perfect self
satisfaction, and his glances at the women
of character plainly indicating: eff l
don't take you along with me now, it is
because l can always get you at any other
time may happen to want YOU"
watched this flow of the brightest and
most agreeable crowd in civilization for
al hour or SO, and then decided to stretch
my legs by a little promenade to the Made
leine and back. motioned to the garcon
who had waited OH me, whose usually
dull face frightened visibly as ne contem-
plated an installment of pourboire.
"Combien, garconF'
''Trente sous, m'sieu," he responded in
velvety tones.
I reached in my vest pocket for some
change and found none. then shot down
into the pocket in my trousers in which
carried q small leathern purse. There
was no purse iii response to the cXplora-
ton. In q second knew that was with.
out sou. The lines on the face of the
garcon began to change from an expression
of agreeable expectancy to one of disagree
able anticipation.
Suddenly / had flash of inspiration.
Just around the corner, on the Rue Scribe,
is the Inman Office, with which kept my
modest bank account. 1t was but step.
laid my silk umbrella on the little table,
and said to the waiter:
''Here, keep this place for me for few
minutes. expect friend"
l jumped up, rushed around into the
Rue Scribe and up to the door of the In
man Office. 1t was shut; not only shut,
but locked. glanced along the street.
All tho business establishments were
closed -"What is it1'' I-esled of an old
woman who came hobbling from out q
pore cOcheye.
at is holiday, mon poupard," she re-
piled swcetly as she limped away.
| suddenly remembered that such was
the fact, and 1 had forgotten It. The
bank was Shut hadn't n ccntime, and
had q bill of 30 cents at the Cafe de In
Paix. ] slowly sauntered back to the
cafe, scheming as to what could he done
under the circumstances. At once there
flashed over me grand revelation;
in pi., nj
during the day before the Cafe de Ia
PaiX." | was saved! l went back, took
my old scat, rctOok my umbrells. and
with smile of confidence ordered yet
another book and some more of cigars. /
then calmly waited for relief.
1t was probably about o'clock when l
resumed my seat, cigars and beer, and
commenced waiting. / was enthusiastic
in the belief that help was Imminent. ]
scanned the crowd closely for the sight Of
IL familiar face. l kept q yigilant eye
adown the serried ranks of the throng in
front Of the cafe in order to detect the
arrival of a friend.
Three o'clock sounded, and there had
not passed a human being whom 1 had
ever seen before. ] began to be uneasy.
To keep up appearances i had to order
books and cigars as fast as each supply
was exhausted. became not only I'M
| easy, but irritated. Where were all the
people | knew, and who up to this ac-
cursed hour seemed to spend all their
time in swigging beer or brandy in front
! of this cafe?
From till 4 o'clock I sat there, and
! watched and waited for o familiar face
and not one presented itself. There were
half q dozen fellows who had smoked and
| drank at my expense in that very place
for weeks, and on this particular day not
one of them presented an appearance. l
began to feel for all of them personal
hatred; it seemed as if they had de-
! liberately conspired to remain away SO as
to avoid lending ME the paltry sum of
| fifty sous.
1t was approaching O'Clock. My
garcon no longer smiled or looked hope
full. In place of these manifestations q
thunder cloud of gloom and suspicion
rested on his face. l was i'm despair. Just
| at this critical moment, suddenly re-
| membered that n couple of days before |
had been introduced to an American ex-
hibitOr who, when he learned that was
press representative, had overwhelmed
me with offers of service. His place of
business was only about half block dis
tant If could but see him-but how
| Just in front of where I sat there was a
kiosk on the edge of the sidewalk, where
woman was selling papers, who, as
learned from overhearing her occasional
conversation with her customers, was
English. wrote note to the American
exhibitor, asking him to step over for the
| moment to the Cafe de la PaiX, as
wanted to see him on very particular
| business. / called to her and asked her
TO take the note, but she refused on ts.f
ground that she could not leave the kiosk.
! was desperate, and resolved on des-
perate measures. Waiting till small
party gave my garcon ah order, stopped
till his back was turned and then bolted.
l went around the corner like musket
ball, and moment later burst into the
office of my American acquaintance He
was there, and beautiful smile came
over his face as he saw me, and came for
ward and shook my hand with an effective
effusion
Lend me five francs, quickr' said I,
and at once his smile vanished. His face
became hard and was clouded with sus.
picion. ''Listenr' I said, vehemently, as
1 / then hurriedly told him my situation.
He seemed TO doubt me. He evidently
thought it was an attempt to beat him,
and yet 1t might be true, and he hesitated
between making an enemy of newspaper
representative and losing five francs.
Policy prevailed, and finally, after consid-
cradle hesitation, he took o. five franc
niece from his pocket, and. with Q "don't-